Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



n F. E. M. NlLLUS. Improvement in Breach-Loading Fir e-Arms.`

Patented May 7,'1872.

Pla-126,568.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l FERDINAND E. M. NILLUS, OF HAVRE, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,568, dated May 7, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

Improvement in Breech-Load'ing Fire-Arms.

My invention relates to improvements in breech-loading re-arms, too fully described hereafter to need preliminary explanation, the said improvements insuring the ready closing and opening of the breech without liability of the parts to become inoperative from fouling or heating.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a gun with my improvements 5 Figs. 2 and 3, rear views, showing the parts in different positions 5 and Fig. 4, a section on the line l 2, Fig. l.

The gun A may be of any suitable form, and in the breech, communicating with the bore, is an enlarged opening for the reception of a hollow cylindrical plug, D, the opening in which coincides with the bore ofthe gun, and is of such a diameter as to permit the ready passage of the charge into the bore. On the plug D is an external screw-thread, adapted to a similar thread inthe breech, and through a longitudinal opening in the plug extends a spindle, b, to the front end of which is secured a breech-piece, O, a conical projection, s, on the face of the latter tting an enlargement of the bore. At the rear end of the hollow screw D is a handle, m, by which the screw may be turned to an extent limited by shoulders p p.

The motion thus imparted to thc screw-plug will be sufcient to force the projection s into or withdraw it entirely from the enlargement l of the bore. To the spindle bis secured a handle, a, by which, (when the screw D is drawn back,) the breech-piece O may b e turned down to a position to expose the bore of the gun, the breech of the gun being cut away so as to form a slot, V, for the reception of the breech-piece when thus depressed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. As the slotV is not of sufficient width to permit the breech-piece to he entirely withdrawn from the bore, the

projecting part of the said breech-piece is cut Y away on the line o o, Fig. 4, forming a curved recess, which (when the breech is open) coincides with the bore, and when the gun is closed receives a proj eetion or stop, g, on the inner face ofthe screw D.

It will be seen that when the breech is closed the screw D prevents the breech-piece from being driven back, and that the projection gprevents any lateral movement, and that, owin g to the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts, they are not liable to become inoperative from fouling, and can expand freely,

should they become heated, without danger of being wedged in their places.

It willbe observed that, instead of the usual oblique vent formed partly in the breech of the gun and partly in the breech-piece, I form a vertical vent, z, in the solid metal in front of the breech-piece. This enables the latter to be screwed into its place until perfectly tight, as there are no two openings to be brought into line with cach other, and it is also safer than the oblique vent, and enables cartridges of ordinary construction to be employed.

lt willbe observed that the breech-piece, when withdrawn, is still almost entirely within. the body of the gun, and is most eii'ectually protected from any liability to be injured by missiles which can strike the gun at `any point.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in a lire-arm, of a re cessed and slotted breech-piece, a hollow screw, D, and a breech-piece, O, hung to and operated by a shaft extending through the said screw, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the breech-piece 0 pivoted toA the hollow screw as described, its projection s, and the enlargement ofthe bore, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. E. M. NILLUS. Witnesses:

JOHN S. HUNT, GIED Pn". 

